Post-publication update:
Melrose earns #27 seed and will face #6 Scituate in the MIAA Div. 2 state tournament.
For more game details and to view the bracket, click here.
Published May 23, 2025
Tennis boys finish with three straight Freedom wins
Div. 2 playoff run is likely for Melrose
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High boy’s tennis team is playing some of their best tennis at the right time as they prepare for a probable post season run in Div. 2 playoff field.
At 8-11, Melrose took three straight ML Freedom wins last week against Stoneham, Watertown and Wilmington that have helped them earn a solid #27 spot in Power Rankings at press time. Despite a loss against North Reading on Tuesday, their season’s effort should be good enough to punch their ticket into the familiar spot of playoffs.
On May 15, Melrose enjoyed a 5-0 sweep over Stoneham at home. Prevailing were all their singles and doubles players that included: 1st Singles: Daniel Teittinen who won 6-0, 6-0; in 2nd Singles Joseph Brady won 6-1, 6-0; and in 3rd Singles Colin Cote won 6-2, 6-3. In first doubles, Gautik Singh and Alec Truesdale won 6-1, 6-2 and in 2nd Doubles Andy Wang and Grady Kamosa won 6-2, 6-2.
“Stoneham played us about the same way as the first match we had with them and 3rd Singles was the closest match,” says Melrose coach Sam Stallings. “Freshman Colin Cote got a great win at 3rd singles, playing in his first singles match for us, and he showed some good resilience to win.”
And on Monday, Melrose enjoyed both Senior Day and a 4-1 victory over Watertown. They honored their outgoing upperclassmen, Gautik Singh, Joe Brady, Grady Kamosa, Jackson Vandervelde anad Andy Wang.
Melrose took wins in first singles via Daniel Teittinen who won 6-1, 6-1, and in 2nd singles by Joseph Brady who won 6-0, 6-0 and in 3rd Singles by Colin Cote who won 6-2, 6-4. They also prevailed in 1st doubles by Alec Truesdale and Grady Kamosa who won 6-0, 6-1. Falling shy in 2nd Doubles was Gautik Singh and Jackson Vandervelde who lost 6-3, 6-2.
“Watertown was a tricky opponent for this match, as their 3rd singles player was a bit stronger than the first time we saw them,” notes coach Stallings. “Colin Cote played a great match under pressure at 3rd and found a way to win in front of his teammates and our Senior Night crowd. We came up just short at 2nd Doubles, where Senior Jackson Vandervelde was playing in his first-ever Varsity match with Senior Captain Gautik Singh. But their opponents played smart and our guys came up just short. Otherwise, our singles wins were let to getting the win.”
And against North Reading on Tuesday, Melrose fell just shy 3-2 to the Hornets. “We had a good chance to win it, but came up just short in a long, three-set match at 2nd Singles,” reports the coach. “Got great wins from Daniel Teittinen at 1st Singles and from Gautik Singh and Alec Truesdale at 1st Doubles.”
But the blip on the schedule shouldn’t affect their chances to qualify for a spot in the Div. 2 postseason field. The team has enjoyed consistency from their more seasoned players like Daniel Teittinen, Joseph Brady, and first doubles pair Gautik Singh and Alec Truesdale. One thing for certain is this team has a lot more tennis in them and is ready to take it to the statewide level. Says Stallings, “We’re focused on controlling what we can control (and winning matches that are within our grasps). I still don’t feel we’ve played a complete match as a team, where everyone is on top of their game from start to finish, but the playoffs would be a good time to make that happen.”
This Friday, May 23, the MIAA will release their playoff brackets. Fans are encouraged to visit our social media pages or the MIAA website at www.miaa.net for up to date tournament information.